U.S. patent application number 10/793756 was filed with the patent office on 2004-09-16 for refrigerator having display.
This patent application is currently assigned to LG Electronics Inc.. Invention is credited to Wo, Ki-Cheol.
Application Number | 20040177624 10/793756 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32965021 |
Filed Date | 2004-09-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040177624 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wo, Ki-Cheol |
September 16, 2004 |
Refrigerator having display
Abstract
A refrigerator includes a refrigerator body having a freezing
chamber, a refrigerating chamber and the like, a refrigerator door
mounted at the refrigerator door; a display mounted at the
refrigerator body or at one side of the door; and a radiation unit
for cooling heat generated from the display. Accordingly, the
refrigerator has both food item function and image medium function,
so that space utilization of a room or a kitchen is improved,
users' convenience is heightened, and heat generated from the
display can be effectively cooled for a smooth operation.
Inventors: |
Wo, Ki-Cheol; (Masan,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FLESHNER & KIM, LLP
P.O. BOX 221200
CHANTILLY
VA
20153
US
|
Assignee: |
LG Electronics Inc.
|
Family ID: |
32965021 |
Appl. No.: |
10/793756 |
Filed: |
March 8, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/125 ;
62/259.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 23/12 20130101;
F25D 29/005 20130101; F25D 2400/06 20130101; F28F 13/00 20130101;
F25D 23/02 20130101; F25D 2400/361 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
062/125 ;
062/259.2 |
International
Class: |
F25B 049/00; F25D
023/12 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 10, 2003 |
KR |
14895/2003 |
Dec 22, 2003 |
KR |
94937/2003 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A refrigerator having a display comprising: a refrigerator body
having a freezing chamber, a refrigerating chamber and the like; a
refrigerator door mounted at the refrigerator door; a display
mounted at the refrigerator body or at one side of the door; and a
radiation unit for cooling heat generated from the display.
2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the display is mounted at
the refrigerator door.
3. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the radiation unit
comprises: a mounting part formed with a prescribed area and depth
at a front surface of the door and having the display inserted
therein; and an air circulation passage for guiding external air to
flow externally after passing through between an inner wall of the
mounting part and a rear surface of the display.
4. The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein the mounting part is formed
such that a recess is formed with a certain area and depth at an
insulation member constituting the refrigerator door and an inner
casing formed corresponding to the shape of the recess formed at
the insulation member is inserted in the recess of the insulation
member.
5. The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein the air circulation passage
comprises: an inlet and an outlet formed penetratingly at a panel
frame fixing the display to the refrigerator door and covering the
mounting part and an inner passage; and a space existing between a
real wall of the display and an inner wall of the mounting part,
and communicating with the inlet and the outlet of the panel
frame.
6. The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein the inlet and the outlet
include a plurality of small holes.
7. The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein the inlet and the outlet
are respectively formed at upper and lower portions of the panel
frame.
8. The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein the inlet and the outlet
are respectively formed at left and right portions of the panel
frame.
9. The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein a heat releasing fan for
forcibly circulating air is provided in the air circulation
passage.
10. The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein the heat releasing fan is
installed adjacent to an element that generated the most heat among
parts constituting the display.
11. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the radiation unit
comprises: a mounting hole penetratingly formed with a certain area
at one side of the refrigerator door; an insulation casing
insertedly fixed in the mounting hole of the refrigerator door and
having a mounting recess in which the display is mounted; and a
heat transfer member coupled to the insulation casing and
transferring heat generated from the display to a cold space at an
inner side of the door.
12. The refrigerator of claim 11, wherein the mounting hole of the
refrigerator door is formed in a square form, and the insulation
casing has a hexahedral outer shape and includes the mounting
recess formed at one surface thereof.
13. The refrigerator of claim 11, wherein the display is inserted
into the display casing having a certain shape and mounted in the
mounting recess of the insulation casing.
14. The refrigerator of claim 11, wherein the heat transfer member
420 has a certain length, is coupled to a real wall of the
insulation casing and in contact with the heat generating element
of the display.
15. The refrigerator of claim 14, wherein the heat generating
element is an inverter of the display.
16. The refrigerator of claim 11, wherein the heat transfer member
is penetratingly coupled to the rear wall of the insulation
casing.
17. The refrigerator of claim 16, wherein a plurality of radiation
fins are formed at an end portion of the heat transfer member
penetrating the real wall of the insulation casing.
18. The refrigerator of claim 11, wherein the heat transfer member
is coupled to be positioned in the rear wall of the insulation
casing.
19. The refrigerator of claim 11, wherein a heat transfer thin
plate having a prescribed area is attached at the rear surface of
the display and the heat transfer member is connected to the heat
transfer thin plate.
20. The refrigerator of claim 11, wherein the heat transfer member
contains aluminum.
21. The refrigerator of claim 19, wherein the heat transfer thin
plate contains at least one of aluminum or copper.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a display-provided
refrigerator and, more particularly, to a refrigerator having a
display including a TV function suitable for improving space
utilization of a room or a kitchen and effectively discharging heat
generated from the display.
[0003] 2. Description of the Background Art
[0004] In general, a refrigerator keeps food items such as meats,
fishes and vegetables fresh. The refrigerator includes a
refrigerator body having a freezing chamber, a refrigerating
chamber, a vegetable chamber, or the like, and a door mounted at
one side of the refrigerator body and opening and closing the
freezing chamber and the refrigerating chamber.
[0005] The refrigerator body includes a refrigerating cycle system
having a compressor, a condenser, a capillary tube, an evaporator,
and the like, a blowing fan for enforcing cooling air to flow, and
a circulation passage for guiding cooling air formed in the
evaporator to flow into the evaporator after passing through the
freezing chamber and the refrigerating chamber.
[0006] The refrigerator operates as follows.
[0007] When a temperature in the freezing chamber or in the
refrigerating chamber is not lower than a pre-set temperature, the
refrigerating cycle system operates. Accordingly, cooling air is
formed in the evaporator and then flows according to operation of
the blowing fan. As cooling air formed in the evaporator flows
through the circulation passage, the freezing chamber, the
refrigerating chamber and the vegetable room provided in the
refrigerating chamber are maintained at the pre-set
temperature.
[0008] The refrigerator is classified into various types depending
on a cooling air circulating method, positions of the freezing
chamber and the refrigerating chamber and the construction of the
evaporator.
[0009] The refrigerator is being enlarged in size to meet user's
desires and various functions are added to improve user's
convenience. For example, a dispenser is provided at the
refrigerator door, so water or ices can be used from outside
without opening the door. In addition, the refrigerator door has a
home bar, so drinking water, or the like, kept in the refrigerating
chamber can be drawn out without opening the refrigerator door.
[0010] The refrigerator is generally positioned in a living room or
in a kitchen in houses. Thus, as the refrigerator is enlarged, it
takes more space in the living room or in the kitchen,
deteriorating utilization of the room or the kitchen. In addition,
since the large refrigerator is located in the kitchen or in the
living room, it, in a way, serves as decorations to influence an
atmosphere of the room or the kitchen.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] Therefore, one object of the present invention is to provide
a refrigerator having a display including a TV function capable of
improving space utilization in a room or a kitchen and users'
convenience of using electric appliances.
[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
refrigerator having a display capable of effectively releasing heat
generated from the display.
[0013] To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with
the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly
described herein, there is provided a refrigerator including: a
refrigerator body having a freezing chamber, a refrigerating
chamber and the like, a refrigerator door mounted at the
refrigerator door; a display mounted at the refrigerator body or at
one side of the door; and a radiation unit for cooling heat
generated from the display.
[0014] The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and
advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from
the following detailed description of the present invention when
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a
further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of
the invention and together with the description serve to explain
the principles of the invention.
[0016] In the drawings:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one example of a
refrigerator having a display in accordance with the present
invention;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of the refrigerator
having the display;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a partial sectional showing an operation state of
the refrigerator having the display;
[0020] FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a radiation unit of a
refrigerator having a display in accordance with the present
invention;
[0021] FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view of the refrigerator
having the display; and
[0022] FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing an operation state of the
radiation unit.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0023] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred
embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
[0024] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one example of a
refrigerator having a display in accordance with the present
invention, and FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of the
refrigerator having the display.
[0025] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the refrigerator having a display
includes a refrigerator body 100, a refrigerator door 200 mounted
at the refrigerating body 100, a display 300 mounted at one side of
the door 200, and a radiation unit for cooling heat generated from
the display 300.
[0026] The refrigerator body 100 includes a freezing chamber (not
shown) for keeping a food item frozen therein, a refrigerating
chamber (not shown) for keeping a food item refrigerated, and a
vegetable room (not shown) for keeping vegetables or fruits.
[0027] The freezing chamber door 200 is mounted at one side of the
refrigerator body to open and close the freezing chamber, and the
refrigerating chamber door 200 is mounted at the other side of the
refrigerator body 100 to open and close the refrigerating
chamber.
[0028] A mounting part (B) having a prescribed area and depth is
provided at one side of the front surface of the refrigerating
chamber door 200, and the display 300 is mounted at the mounting
part (B). The display 300 includes an LCD panel 310, a control
circuit board 320 and a panel frame 340 supporting the LCD panel
310.
[0029] As for the display 300, the LCD panel 310 and the control
circuit board 320 are positioned in the mounting part (B). The LCD
panel 310 is fixed at the side of the refrigerator door 200.
[0030] The mounting part B of the refrigerator door includes a hole
211 formed with a prescribed size on an outer plate 210
constituting the refrigerator door 200, a recess 231 formed with a
prescribed area and depth in an insulation member 230 positioned
between the outer plate 210 of the door and an inner plate 220, and
an inner wall casing 240 formed corresponding to an inner surface
of the recess 231 of the insulation member 231, having a certain
thickness, and insertedly coupled to the recess 231 of the
insulation member.
[0031] The radiation unit includes an air circulation passage for
guiding external air introduced into the mounting part (B), in
which the display 300 is inserted, to flow externally after passing
through the inner wall of the mounting part (B), that is, the inner
wall casing 240, and a rear surface of the display 300.
[0032] The air circulation passage includes an inlet 341 and an
outlet 342 formed penetratingly at the panel frame 341 covering the
mounting part (B) and an inner passage 250, a space between a real
wall of the display 300 and an inner wall of the mounting part (B),
communicating with the inlet 341 and the outlet 342 of the panel
frame.
[0033] The inlet 341 and the outlet 342 are formed at upper and
lower parts of the panel frame 340. The inlet 341 and the outlet
342 can be formed at left and right parts of the panel frame
340.
[0034] Preferably, the inlet 341 and the outlet 341 include a
plurality of small holes.
[0035] In order to effectively releasing heat generated from the
display 300, a heat releasing fan 260 for forcibly circulating air
can be provided in the air circulation passage.
[0036] The heat releasing fan 260 is preferably installed adjacent
to an element from which much heat is generated, among parts
constituting the display 300. An element that may generate the most
heat in the display 300 is an inverter 321, and the heat releasing
fan 260 is preferably installed at the side of the inverter
321.
[0037] Reference numeral 330 is an electromagnetic wave blocking
plate.
[0038] The refrigerator having the display 300 operates as
follows.
[0039] First, generally, like in a related art refrigerator, food
items are kept in the freezing chamber or in the refrigerating
chamber as necessary, and vegetables or fruits are kept in the
vegetable chamber, and if a preserved food item is desired to be
used, a user opens the refrigerator door 200 and takes out the
preserved food item.
[0040] If the user desires to enjoy a TV program, he/she may turn
on the display 300 mounted on the refrigerator door 200 to view a
desired TV program.
[0041] When the display 300 operates, heat is generated mainly from
the control circuit board 320, and specifically, from the inverter
321 constituting the control circuit board 320.
[0042] As shown in FIG. 3, heat generated from the display 300 is
discharged together with external air that is introduced and
discharged through the air circulation passage. Namely, external
air is introduced into the mounting part (B) through the inlet 341
formed at the panel frame 340, flows through the inner passage 250,
the space between the rear surface of the display 300, that is, the
rear surface of the control circuit board 320, and the inner wall
of the mounting part (B), and flows out through the outlet 342
formed at the panel frame 340.
[0043] In this process, as heat generated from the display 300 is
externally discharged together with air, cooling the display
300.
[0044] In the case that the heat releasing fan 260 is mounted in
the air circulation passage, since external air can forcibly flow
through the air circulation passage thanks to an operation of the
heat releasing fan 260, heat releasing effect can be enhanced.
[0045] The radiation unit constituting the refrigerator having the
display can be implemented in various forms, one of which will now
be described.
[0046] FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a radiation unit of a
refrigerator having a display in accordance with the present
invention.
[0047] As shown in FIG. 4, another radiation unit includes a
mounting hole 270 penetratingly formed with a certain area at one
side of the refrigerator door 200, an insulation casing 410
insertedly fixed in the mounting hole of the refrigerator door and
having a mounting recess 411 in which the display 300 is mounted,
and a heat transfer member 420 coupled to the insulation casing 410
and transferring heat generated from the display 300 to a cold
space at an inner side of the door.
[0048] The mounting hole 270 of the refrigerator door is formed in
a square form at one side of the front surface of the refrigerator
door 200. The insulation casing 410 has a hexahedral outer shape so
as to be inserted into the square mounting hole, and the mounting
recess 411 is formed at one surface thereof.
[0049] The display 300 is preferably inserted in a display casing
430 having a certain shape and mounted in the mounting recess 411
of the insulation casing.
[0050] A hole 431 is preferably formed at the display casing 430 so
that the inverter 321 constituting the control circuit board 320 of
the display can be exposed therethrough.
[0051] The heat transfer member 420 is formed with a prescribed
length. The heat transfer member 420 is coupled to a rear wall 412
of the insulation casing, and one side of the heat transfer member
420 is in contact with a heat generating element of the display
300. Among parts of the display 300, the inverter 321 generates the
greatest amount of heat, so the heat transfer member 420 is
preferably in contact with the inverter 321.
[0052] In order to effectively transfer heat generated from the
display 300 to the heat transfer member 420, a heat transfer thin
plate (not shown) having a certain area can be in contact with the
rear surface of the display 300, that is, the rear surface of the
control circuit board 320, and the heat transfer member 420 can be
in contact with the heat transfer thin plate.
[0053] The heat transfer member 420 is coupled such that one end
thereof is positioned in the rear wall 412 of the insulation
casing. The rear wall 412 of the insulation casing is positioned at
the side of the refrigerating chamber or the freezing chamber of
the refrigerator body 100.
[0054] In order to effectively transfer heat to the refrigerating
chamber or to the freezing chamber, the inner side of the
refrigerator door 200, as shown in FIG. 5, one side of the heat
transfer member 420 is penetratingly coupled to the rear wall 412
of the insulation casing so as to be exposed to the refrigerating
chamber or to the freezing chamber.
[0055] Preferably, a plurality of radiation fins 421 are provided
at the end of the heat transfer member 420 exposed to the
refrigerating chamber or to the freezing chamber.
[0056] The heat transfer member 420 is made of a material
containing aluminum having an excellent heat transfer
performance.
[0057] The heat transfer thin plate is made of a material
containing at least one of aluminum or copper.
[0058] The radiation unit operates as follows.
[0059] First, when the user operates the display 300 mounted at the
door 200 of the refrigerator, heat is generated from the display
300. While the display 300 is operating, heat is generated from the
control circuit board 320, and specifically, mostly from the
inverter 321 of the control circuit board 320.
[0060] As shown in FIG. 6, heat generated from the control circuit
board 320 is transferred to the heat transfer member 420. Heat
transferred to the heat transfer member 420 is cooled while being
transferred toward the refrigerating chamber or the freezing
chamber, the inner side of the refrigerator door 200. As this
process is continuously performed, heat generated from the display
300 is released while being transferred to the refrigerating
chamber or to the freezing chamber.
[0061] In addition, when the heat transfer thin plate is mounted at
the rear surface of the display 300, heat can be more effectively
released from the display 300.
[0062] The insulation casing 410 prevents cooling air at the inner
side of the refrigerator door 200 from being transferred
externally, and the display casing 430 protects the display 300
when vibration or impact occurs.
[0063] The display 300 of the refrigerator can be installed at the
refrigerator body 100, as well as at the refrigerator door 200.
[0064] In addition, the display 300 can be mounted at various types
of refrigerators. The display 300 may include a function of
displaying an image variably such as a touch screen, without being
limited to the function for a TV.
[0065] As so far described, the refrigerator having a display of
the present invention has the following advantages.
[0066] That is, for example, first, since the refrigerator keeping
food items additionally has the various image display functions
including the TV function, there is no need to install a TV in a
room. Thus, space utilization of the room or the kitchen can be
heightened, and in addition, an indoor decoration effect can be
improved with the large refrigerator.
[0067] Second, since the refrigerator has the food item
refrigerating function and the TV function, convenience in using
electronic devices can be improved.
[0068] Third, since heat generated from the display 300 is
effectively released, the display 300 can operate smoothly.
[0069] Forth, the refrigerator has a simple structure with fewer
components, its fabrication and assembly are easy.
[0070] As the present invention may be embodied in several forms
without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics
thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described
embodiments are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing
description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be
construed broadly within its spirit and scope as defined in the
appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that
fall within the metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalence of
such metes and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the
appended claims.
* * * * *